Cant. XII.

Artegall doth Sir Burbon aide, And blames for changing shield: He with the great Grantorto fights, And slaieth him in field.

[1] O Sacred sacred hunger of ambitious mindes, And impotent desire of men to raine, Whom neither dread of God, that deuils devils bindes, Nor lawes of men, that common weales containe, Nor bands of nature, that wilde beastes restraine, Can keepe from outrage, and from doing wrong, Where they may hope a kingdome to obtaine. No faith so firme, no trust can be so strong, No loue love so lasting then, that may enduren long. [2] Witnesse may Burbon be, whom all the bands, Which may a Knight assure, had surely bound, Vntill Untill the loue love of Lordship and of lands Made him become most faithlesse and vnsound unsound : 342 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. The And witnesse be Gerioneo found, Who for like cause faire Belge did oppresse, And right and wrong most cruelly confound: And so be now Grantorto, who no lesse 1596.bk5.V.xii.2.9. Then: Than Then Than all the rest burst out to all outragiousnesse. [3] Gainst whom Sir Artegall, long hauing having since Taken in hand th’exploit, being theretoo Appointed by that mightie Faerie Prince, Great Gloriane, that Tyrant to fordoo, Through other great aduentures adventures hether too Had it forslackt. But now time drawing ny, To him assynd, her high beheast to doo, To the sea shore he gan his way apply, To weete if shipping readie he mote there descry. [4] Tho when they came to the sea coast, they found A ship all readie (as good fortune fell) To put to sea, with whom they did compound, To passe them ouer over , where them list to tell: The winde and weather serued served them so well, That in one day they with the coast did fall; Whereas they readie found them to repell, Great hostes of men in order martiall, Which them forbad to land, and footing did forstall. [5] But nathemore would they from land refraine, But when as nigh vnto unto the shore they drew, That foot of man might sound the bottome plaine, Talus into the sea did forth issew, Though darts from shore & and stones they at him threw; And wading through the waues waves with stedfast sway, Maugre the might of all those troupes in vew, Did win the shore, whence he them chast away, And made to fly, like doues doves , whom the Eagle doth affray. Cant.XII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 343 Y4 [6] The whyles Sir Artegall, with that old knight Did forth descend, there being none them neare, And forward marched to a towne in sight. By this came tydings to the Tyrants eare, By those, which earst did fly away for feare Of their arriuall arrivall : wherewith troubled sore, He all his forces streight to him did reare, And forth issuing with his scouts afore, Meant them to haue have incountred, ere they left the shore. [7] But ere he marched farre, he with them met, And fiercely charged them with all his force; But Talus sternely did vpon upon them set, And brusht, and battred them without remorse, That on the ground he left full many a corse; Ne any able was him to withstand, But he them ouerthrew overthrew both man and horse, That they lay scattred ouer over all the land, As thicke as doth the seede after the sowers hand. [8] Till Artegall him seeing so to rage, Willd him to stay, and signe of truce did make: To which all harkning, did a while asswage Their forces furie, and their terror slake; Till he an Herauld cald, and to him spake, Willing him wend vnto unto the Tyrant streight, And tell him that not for such slaughters sake He thether came, but for to trie the right Of fayre Irenaes cause with him in single fight. [9] And willed him for to reclayme with speed His scattred people, ere they all were slaine, And time and place conuenient convenient to areed, In which they two the combat might darraine. 344 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. Like Which message when Grantorto heard, full fayne And glad he was the slaughter so to stay, And pointed for the combat twixt them twayne The morrow next, ne gaue gave him longer day. So sounded the retraite, and drew his folke away. [10] That night Sir Artegall did cause his tent There to be pitched on the open plaine; For he had giuen given streight commaundement, That none should dare him once to entertaine: Which none durst breake, though many would right (faine For fayre Irena, whom they loued loved deare. But yet old Sergis did so well him paine, That from close friends, that dar’d not to appeare, He all things did puruay purvay , which for them needfull weare. [11] The morrow next, that was the dismall day, Appointed for Irenas death before, So soone as it did to the world display His chearefull face, and light to men restore, The heauy heavy Mayd, to whom none tydings bore Of Artegals arryuall arryvall , her to free, Lookt vp up with eyes full sad and hart full sore; Weening her lifes last howre then neare to bee, Sith no redemption nigh she did nor heare nor see. [12] Then vp up she rose, and on her selfe did dight Most squalid garments, fit for such a day, And with dull countenance, and with doleful spright, She forth was brought in sorrowfull dismay, For to receiue receive the doome of her decay. But comming to the place, and finding there Sir Artegall, in battailous array Wayting his foe, it did her dead hart cheare, And new life to her lent, in midst of deadly feare. Cant.XII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 345 [13] Like as a tender Rose in open plaine, That with vntimely untimely drought nigh withered was, And hung the head, soone as few drops of raine Thereon distill, and deaw her daintie face, Gins to looke vp up , and with fresh wonted grace Dispreds the glorie of her leaues leaves gay; Such was Irenas countenance, such her case, When Artegall she saw in that array, There wayting for the Tyrant, till it was farre day. [14] Who came at length, with proud presumpteous gate, Into the field, as if he fearelesse were, All armed in a cote of yron plate, Of great defence to ward the deadly feare, And on his head a steele cap he did weare Of colour rustie browne, but sure and strong; And in his hand an huge Polaxe did beare, Whose steale was yron studded, but not long, With which he wont to fight, to iustifie justifie his wrong. [15] Of stature huge and hideous he was, Like to a Giant for his monstrous hight, And did in strength most sorts of men surpas, Ne euer ever any found his match in might; Thereto he had great skill in single fight: His face was vgly ugly , and his countenance sterne, That could haue have frayd one with the very sight, And gaped like a gulfe, when he did gerne, That whether man or monster one could scarse discerne. [16] Soone as he did within the listes appeare, With dreadfull looke he Artegall beheld, As if he would haue have daunted him with feare, And grinning griesly, did against him weld 346 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. Yet His deadly weapon, which in hand he held. But th’Elfin swayne, that oft had seene like fight, Was with his ghastly count’nance nothing queld, But gan him streight to buckle to the fight, And cast his shield about, to be in readie plight. [17] The trompets sound, and they together goe, With dreadfull terror, and with fell intent; And their huge strokes full daungerously bestow, To doe most dammage, where as most they ment. But with such force and furie violent, The tyrant thundred his thicke blowes so fast, That through the yron walles their way they rent, And euen even to the vitall parts they past, Ne ought could them endure, but all they cleft or brast. [18] Which cruell outrage when as Artegall Did well auize avize , thenceforth with warie heed He shund his strokes, where euer ever they did fall, And way did giue give vnto unto their gracelesse speed: As when a skilfull Marriner doth reed A storme approching, that doth perill threat, He will not bide the daunger of such dread, But strikes his sayles, and vereth his mainsheat, And lends vnto unto it leaue leave the emptie ayre to beat. [19] So did the Faerie knight himselfe abeare, And stouped oft his head from shame to shield; No shame to stoupe, ones head more high to reare, And much to gaine, a litle for to yield; So stoutest knights doen oftentimes in field. But still the tyrant sternely at him layd, And did his yron axe so nimbly wield, That many wounds into his flesh it made, And with his burdenous blowes him sore did ouerlade overlade . 347 FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . Cant.XII. [20] Yet when as fit aduantage advantage he did spy, The whiles the cursed felon high did reare His cruell hand, to smite him mortally, Vnder Under his stroke he to him stepping neare, Right in the flanke him strooke with deadly dreare, That the gore bloud thence gushing grieuously grievously , Did vnderneath underneath him like a pond appeare, And all his armour did with purple dye; Thereat he brayed loud, and yelled dreadfully. [21] Yet the huge stroke, which he before intended, Kept on his course, as he did it direct, And with such monstrous poise adowne descended, That seemed nought could him from death protect: But he it well did ward with wise respect, And twixt him and the blow his shield did cast, Which thereon seizing, tooke no great effect, But byting deepe therein did sticke so fast, That by no meanes it backe againe he forth could wrast. [22] Long while he tug’d and stroue strove , to get it out, And all his powre applyed thereunto, That he therewith the knight drew all about: Nathlesse, for all that euer ever he could doe, His axe he could not from his shield vndoe undoe . Which Artegall perceiuing perceiving , strooke no more, But loosing soone his shield, did it forgoe, And whiles he combred was therewith so sore, He gan at him let driue drive more fiercely 1596.bk5.V.xii.22.9. then: than then than afore. [23] So well he him pursew’d, that at the last, He stroke him with Chrysaor on the hed, That with the souse thereof full sore aghast, He staggered to and fro in doubtfull sted. 348 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. But Againe whiles he him saw so ill bested, He did him smite with all his might and maine, That falling on his mother earth he fed: Whom when he saw prostrated on the plaine, He lightly reft his head, to ease him of his paine. [24] Which when the people round about him saw, They shouted all for ioy joy of his successe, Glad to be quit from that proud Tyrants awe, Which with strõg strong powre did thẽ them long time oppresse; And running all with greedie ioyfulnesse joyfulnesse To faire Irena, at her feet did fall, And her adored with due humblenesse, As their true Liege and Princesse naturall; And eke her champions glorie sounded ouer over all. [25] Who streight her leading with meete maiestie majestie Vnto Unto the pallace, where their kings did rayne, Did her therein establish peaceablie, And to her kingdomes seat restore agayne; And all such persons, as did late maintayne That Tyrants part, with close or open ayde, He sorely punished with heauie heavie payne; That in short space, whiles there with her he stayd, Not one was left, that durst her once haue have disobayd. [26] During which time, that he did there remaine, His studie was true Iustice Justice how to deale, And day and night employ’d his busie paine How to reforme that ragged common-weale: And that same yron man which could reueale reveale All hidden crimes, through all that realme he sent, To search out those, that vsd usd to rob and steale, Or did rebell gainst lawfull gouernment government ; On whom he did inflict most grieuous grievous punishment. Cant.XII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 349 [27] But ere he could reforme it thoroughly, He through occasion called was away, To Faerie Court, that of necessity His course of Iustice Justice he was forst to stay, And Talus to reuoke revoke from the right way, In which he was that Realme for to redresse. But enuies envies cloud still dimmeth vertues ray. So hauing having freed Irena from distresse, He tooke his leaue leave of her, there left in heauinesse heavinesse . [28] Tho as he backe returned from that land, And there arriu’d arriv’d againe, whence forth he set, He had not passed farre vpon upon the strand, When as two old ill fauour’d favour’d Hags he met, By the way side being together set, Two griesly creatures; and, to that their faces Most foule and filthie were, their garments yet Being all rag’d and tatter’d, their disgraces Did much the more augment, and made most vgly ugly cases. [29] The one of them, that elder did appeare, With her dull eyes did seeme to looke askew, That her mis-shape much helpt; and her foule heare Hung loose and loathsomely: Thereto her hew Was wan and leane, that all her teeth arew, And all her bones might through her cheekes be red; Her lips were like raw lether, pale and blew, And as she spake, therewith she slauered slavered ; Yet spake she seldom, but thought more, the lesse she sed. [30] Her hands were foule and durtie, neuer never washt In all her life, with long nayles ouer over raught, Like puttocks clawes: with th’one of which she scracht Her cursed head, although it itched naught; 350 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. For The other held a snake with venime fraught, On which she fed, and gnawed hungrily, As if that long she had not eaten ought; That round about her iawes jawes one might descry The bloudie gore and poyson dropping lothsomely. [31] Her name was Enuie Envie , knowen well thereby; Whose nature is to grieue grieve , and grudge at all, That euer ever she sees doen prays-worthily, Whose sight to her is greatest crosse, may fall, And vexeth so, that makes her eat her gall. For when she wanteth other thing to eat, She feedes on her owne maw vnnaturall unnaturall , And of her owne foule entrayles makes her meat; Meat fit for such a monsters monsterous dyeat. [32] And if she hapt of any good to heare, That had to any happily betid, Then would she inly fret, and grieue grieve , and teare Her flesh for felnesse, which she inward hid: But if she heard of ill, that any did, Or harme, that any had, then would she make Great cheare, like one vnto unto a banquet bid; And in anothers losse great pleasure take, As she had got thereby, and gayned a great stake. [33] The other nothing better was, 1596.bk5.V.xii.33.1. then: than then than shee; Agreeing in bad will and cancred kynd, But in bad maner they did disagree: For what so Enuie Envie good or bad did fynd, She did conceale, and murder her owne mynd; But this, what euer ever euill evill she conceiued conceived , Did spred abroad, and throw in th’open wynd. Yet this in all her words might be perceiued perceived , That all she sought, was mens good name to haue have be-(reaued. be-(reabed. Cant.XII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 351 [34] For what soeuer soever good by any sayd, Or doen she heard, she would streightwayes inuent invent , How to depraue deprave , or slaunderously vpbrayd upbrayd , Or to misconstrue of a mans intent, And turne to ill the thing, that well was ment. Therefore she vsed used often to resort, To common haunts, and companies frequent, To hearke what any one did good report, To blot the same with blame, or wrest in wicked sort. [35] And if that any ill she heard of any, She would it eeke, and make much worse by telling, And take great ioy joy to publish it to many, That euery every matter worse was for her melling. Her name was hight Detraction, and her dwelling Was neare to Enuie Envie , euen even her neighbour next; A wicked hag, and Enuy Envy selfe excelling In mischiefe: for her selfe she onely vext; But this same both her selfe, and others eke perplext. [36] Her face was vgly ugly , and her mouth distort, Foming with poyson round about her gils, In which her cursed tongue full sharpe and short Appear’d like Aspis sting, that closely kils, Or cruelly does wound, whom so she wils: A distaffe in her other hand she had, Vpon Upon the which she litle spinnes, but spils, And faynes to weaue weave false tales and leasings bad, To throw amongst the good, which others had disprad. [37] These two now had themselues themselves combynd in one, And linckt together gainst Sir Artegall, For whom they wayted as his mortall fone, How they might make him into mischiefe fall, 352 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.XII. Thereto For freeing from their snares Irena thrall, Besides vnto unto themselues themselves they gotten had A monster, which the Blatant beast men call, A dreadfull feend of gods and men ydrad, Whom they by slights allur’d, and to their purpose lad. [38] Such were these Hags, and so vnhandsome unhandsome drest: Who when they nigh approching, had espyde Sir Artegall return’d from his late quest, They both arose, and at him loudly cryde, As it had bene two shepheards curres, had scryde A rauenous ravenous Wolfe amongst the scattered flockes. And Enuie Envie first, as she that first him eyde, Towardes him runs, and with rude flaring lockes About her eares, does beat her brest, & and forhead knockes. [39] Then from her mouth the gobbet she does take, The which whyleare she was so greedily Deuouring Devouring , euen even that halfe-gnawen snake, And at him throwes it most despightfully. The cursed Serpent, though she hungrily Earst chawd thereon, yet was not all so dead, But that some life remayned secretly, And as he past afore withouten dread, Bit him behind, that long the marke was to be read. [40] Then th’other comming neare, gan him reuile revile , And fouly rayle, with all she could inuent invent ; Saying, that he had with vnmanly unmanly guile, And foule abusion both his honour blent, And that bright sword the sword, of Iustice Justice lent Had stayned with reprochfull crueltie, In guiltlesse blood of many an innocent: As for Grandtorto, him with treacherie And traynes hauing having surpriz’d, he fouly did to die. Cant.XII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 353 Z [41] Thereto the Blatant beast by them set on At him began aloud to barke and bay, With bitter rage and fell contention, That all the woods and rockes nigh to that way, Began to quake and tremble with dismay; And all the aire rebellowed againe. So dreadfully his hundred tongues did bray, And euermore evermore those hags them selues selves did paine, To sharpen him, and their owne cursed tongs did straine. [42] And still among most bitter wordes they spake, Most shamefull, most vnrighteous unrighteous , most vntrew untrew , That they the mildest man aliue alive would make Forget his patience, and yeeld vengeaunce dew To her, that so false sclaunders at him threw. And more to make thẽ them pierce & and wound more deepe, She with the sting, which in her vile tongue grew, Did sharpen them, and in fresh poyson steepe: Yet he past on, and seem’d of them to take no keepe. [43] But Talus hearing her so lewdly raile, And speake so ill of him, that well deserued deserved , Would her haue have chastiz’d with his yron flaile, If her Sir Artegall had not preserued preserved , And him forbidden, who his heast obserued observed . So much the more at him still did she scold, And stones did cast, yet he for nought would swerue swerve From his right course, but still the way did hold To Faery Court, where what him fell shall else be told.